Pittsburgh @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 1, LA Dodgers 17

Matt Kemp has torched Pittsburgh pitching in four meetings this season and looks to inflict more damage when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Pirates on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Kemp went 5-for-5 with a homer, four RBIs and four runs scored on Monday as Los Angeles racked up season highs in runs and hits (21) en route to a 17-1 victory.

Kemp recorded a homer and five RBIs versus the Pirates on June 6 and is a lava-like 10-for-17 with two blasts, 12 RBIs and nine runs scored against them this season. Yasiel Puig went 3-for-5 with a season-high four RBIs and the Dodgers batted around three times while winning their second straight game after losing four of their previous five. Pittsburgh allowed a season high in runs and is 2-2 on a six-game road trip that began with three games in San Diego. The slumping Starling Marte is expected to miss his third straight start as the Pirates work with him on the side after he batted just .183 in June.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (4-5, 4.02 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-4, 2.84)

Nova did not factor in the decision against the New York Mets in his last turn after giving up three runs and five hits over six innings. The 31-year-old allowed just two runs and 12 hits over 19 2/3 frames in his previous three turns, going 2-0 in that stretch. Nova is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two career starts versus the Dodgers but has struggled against Kemp (3-for-9).

Kershaw will be making his third start since coming off the disabled list due to a lower back injury. The 30-year-old, who hasn't won since April 15, allowed one run and four hits in five innings against the Chicago Cubs in his last turn. Kershaw is 2-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 career starts against the Pirates and has shut down Corey Dickerson (2-for-12, eight strikeouts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Kemp, who matched his career high for hits on Monday, is 8-for-9 this month after also notching a homer and four RBIs in Sunday's victory over Colorado.

2. Pittsburgh recalled RHP Nick Kingham - who allowed three homers in three-plus innings on Monday - from Triple-A Indianapolis, optioned OF-1B Jose Osuna to the same affiliate, designated LHP Enny Romero for assignment and sent UTL Sean Rodriguez (quadriceps) to Indianapolis to begin a rehab assignment.

3. Los Angeles 1B Cody Bellinger hit his 17th homer on Monday and has gone deep five times over his last 11 games.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Pirates 3